Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-10-20

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The maps below show the centre of a small town called Islip as it is now, and plans for its development.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Student answer (Band 5.5)

The first map presents the current look of Islip town and second map shows how it look like after planned development.

In recent time, it is clear that town is not in a good structure and it will change entirely after developments but few things remain will remain same.

If we closely observe the first map there is main road going throughout the town. There is countryside on north wall of the town. Shops are present on both sides along the road. Two pathways are heading from main road to South direction. One is going towards school other one is for park. In mid of the town there are some housing and it is also on south boundary.

Subsequently, after planned construction there would be a dual carriageway around all over the town. Shops that are near countryside would be replace by bus station, shopping centre, car park and some new housing. There will be a padestrians path between these eminities and shops. Shops will be in the mid of the town. On south of these shops along with the old house some new housing will be present. Park will remain on same location but its size will reduce. Similarly, school will be on same location but it will bigger then earlier. Some housing will reamin on south boundary.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You cover the main stages and several important changes: the northern shops are replaced by a bus station, shopping centre and car park, the central road becomes pedestrian-only, and the park is reduced. The overview also recognises substantial redevelopment and that some features remain. However, some details are inaccurate or unclear. The dual carriageway is described as going “around all over the town,” rather than forming a loop around the centre, and the school does not become bigger; it remains outside the loop. The new housing northeast of the car park and the retained southern shops could also be reported more precisely. Your account addresses the task, but these omissions and misreadings, along with a broad overview, limit its completeness.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall sequence: an introduction, an overview, a description of the current map, and then the planned changes. This makes the comparison easy to follow, and phrases such as “If we closely observe” and “Subsequently” signal movement between sections. However, some linking is mechanical, and references are occasionally vague. For example, “these eminities and shops” does not clearly identify which facilities or shops are meant, while “Shops will be in the mid of the town” is difficult to place geographically. The overview also repeats the idea that the town will change without clearly grouping the main changes. Use more precise location-based links and organise the planned features by north and south to improve progression.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a reasonable range of map-related vocabulary, including “dual carriageway,” “countryside,” “pathways,” “boundary,” and “reduce,” so the main information is generally understandable. However, several word choices and collocations are imprecise or unsuitable for a formal map summary: “current look,” “north wall,” “going throughout,” and “around all over the town.” There are also spelling errors, including “padestrians,” “eminities,” and “reamin,” which reduce accuracy. Some repetition of “shops,” “town,” and “housing” could be avoided by using precise references such as “the northern row of shops” or “residential areas.” Aim for accurate location language and check spelling before submitting.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more extended sentence forms, and most of the map description remains understandable. However, errors in verb forms, articles, agreement and sentence construction are noticeable. For example, “second map shows how it look like” needs a more accurate clause, while “shops … would be replace” has an incorrect passive form. “It will bigger then earlier” is missing a verb, and “few things remain will remain same” contains repetition and an incomplete structure. Articles are also missing in phrases such as “there is main road.” These errors sometimes make the reader pause, although the intended meaning is usually recoverable. Practise accurate passive constructions and check each sentence for a complete verb phrase and necessary articles.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.